MUMBAI: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, said in the Assembly that work on the stalled Pavana pipeline project would start soon. The project was stopped for last eight years after the firing incident in Maval area.

The government had sanctioned the project to bring water from Pavana dam to Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) areas in 2006 under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The cost of the project was Rs 223.30 crore while Rs 55.11 crore was earmarked for it in the PCMC budget.

PCMC had already issued the work order in 2008 to NCC-SMC-INDU (JV) company to construct the pipeline. The project involves lifting water directly through a closed pipeline from Pavana dam.

The work of construction of pump house, break pressure tank, upper water pipeline of 610 metre and two 34.85 kilometre-long parallel pipelines are proposed. These pipelines will flow water on gravitational forces. The pipeline will run up to Ravet area. 

Work of two pipelines, one 4.40 kilometre and the other 8.8 kilometre, in the PCMC limit has been completed. 

The project had come to a halt in August 2011 after three protesting farmers were killed in police firing in Maval area. After the incident, the State Government had immediately stayed the implementation of the project.

Chief Minister Fadnavis further said that Guardian Minister of Pune Chandrakant Patil will restart the project after co-ordination with all the agencies.  

Pavana dam is located around 35 kilometre from Pimpri Chinchwad in Maval taluka. The Irrigation Department releases water from the dam into the river, which is stored at the Ravet bund. The water is then lifted from there, treated at the Nigdi water treatment plant and then distributed in the city.

PAVANA PIPELINE PROJECT
- The project involves lifting water directly through a closed pipeline from Pavana dam, located around 35 km from Pimpri-Chinchwad. 
- Work on the project was stopped for the last eigth years after the firing incident in Maval area.